Electric-circuit closer for automobiles.



APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22.19II.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

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GEORGE E. voIeH'r, or sar aane sco, pap rgan a W Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Sep't.4,,191 7. i 1, ,L ll lfl m. H!"

Application filed January 22, 19.17. Serial 110,143,690. 1

;My invention relates to electric circuit closers for automobiles, adapted to be dis posed npon'the steering-gearsof automobiles, and useful for controlling tl e .electric circuits of electrically controlled horns, or other like signal devices, and it is also useful for grounding or short-circuiting'the ignition current of automobiles, whereby the motor-can be stopped.

Oneof the objects ofmy invention isto provide a device in which the controlling element" is disposed near the central portion of, the steering-wheel and above ,the ,steering-wheel hub, and in convenient reach of the handof the operator; a further object of the invention .being to provide a device of the kind mentioned, that can .be readily attached to either an old or a'new machine; the device is also comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as .the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in;the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood ,that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the'invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile steering-gear equipped with my invention, portions of the steering-wheel being cut away, the cut through ,the central or hub portion of the steering-wheel being made on the line AA, Fig. 2, the view also showing more or less diagrammatically an electric horn and its circuit; Fig. 2 is a top view of the central portion of ;the steering-wheel, showing an upper portion of my invention, a portion being broken away, and also showing a sectional view of the steeringwheel shaft. taken on line DD, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the invention taken on line E -E of Fig. 1, portions being broken away, and alsoshowing a portion -of'the steering-gear below :the steer ng wheelp Fig fi is a side sectiqnfll view of ,theinvention and a portionuof lthe.

s ring-g ar; a n. on lin i B-;B,i Rig-.2; Fi g. 5 is; a, bottom-side view of a lportion "of ,the invent1on,'and a portion of the steeringgear, through the upper end of the standard, g n-line .C.C, Figg.

Similar ,numerals refer, to similar parts throughout theseveralviews. v

Thei umeral 1 designates a steering-gear standard (the lower portion .not being lshown' in the. drawings). of an automobile. Said standard. is, hollow and disposed stationary relative to the automobile and has an enlarged or ldilated portioniQ, and'an upper end :portion 3:,which terminates in an annular marginalfiange 4; Into the said hollow standard 1 is rotatably fitted a steer- ,ingswheelishaft 5 having an upper and reduced; end portionfi and an ofiset'l;

v vSaid reduced portionfi projects out above .the upper'end of .the standard 1 and receives the hub 8of the steering-wheel, which hub has' a central op'enin registering'engage ably with the said re uced portion 6. Thereduced portion 6 is rovided with two suitablekeyseats exten ing along its two opposite sides, which key-seats registerfwith two key-seats extending through the hub 8 at the margin of the ,said opening there- -through. Into said'key-seats arefittedsuit- 'able, keys, 9. The steering-wheel is nonmovable relative to the shaft and its reduced portion 6.

Upon the upper end of said reduced portion 6 is threaded and engages a nut 10.

, 11 represents the upper plate, 12 the lower plate and 13 the connecting portion. of a yoke like supporting-bracket disposed within the crotch of twoof the spokes ofthe steering-wheel, ,thefree endsof thelbracket, that is the said upper and lower plates, being adapted to straddle ithe' hub of the steering wheel.

The supporting-bracket is non-inovably secured to said steeringfwheel audits ,shaft, by means ofmain central openings ex'tending through the inner and free ends of said plates, which openings receivethe said reduced portion 6.

The lower plate 12 seats upon the offset 7,.the whole, that is to' saythe said plates and the hub 8, being forced down tightly and in the direction of the said offset, by means of the nut 10.

The said supporting-bracket is further secured to said reduced portion 6, and prevented from rotating relative thereto, by means of key-seat-en aging-ears 14 on said plates, and which ey-seat-engaging-ears extend inwardly into said main central openings in the plates 11 and 12, and are adapted to engage the key-seats extending along the sides of said reduced portion 6.

Into the openings 15 and 16, and extending through said supporting bracket, is slidably fitted a plunger 18, which plunger has an upper end extending above the upper plate 11, which upper end is provided with a suitable hand-piece or button 19, and a lower end extending below the lower plate 12, said lower end of the plunger being bent inwardly toward the axis of the steeringwhcel shaft, and thence outwardly again upon itself and thence upwardly and into the opening 17 in the plate 12, in which opening 17 it is adapted to fit loosely, said portion extending into said opening 17, being adapted as a guide means to prevent the plunger from rotatin upon its own'axis, and turning the sai inwardly bent end away from its position relative to the standard 1.

Between the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12, and encircling the intermediate portion of the plunger 18, is a spiral compression spring 21, the lower end of which seats upon the upper side of the lower plate 12, while the upper end of said spring yieldingly supports a pin 22, which pin is supported by the plunger 18 by passing a hole 23 in said plunger. The function of the sprin 21 is to force the plunger 18 upward y as far as it will go and to yieldingly hold it there.

24 is an annular insulating sleeve, encircling the upper end portion of the standard 1, and is tightly clamped to said portion by means of a circuit-wire terminal-band 25, which encircles both said insulating sleeve and said standard, and is provided with fastening cars 26 through which passes a screwbolt 27, said terminal-band being provided with an annular contact-flange 28 disposed at the margin of its upper edge. Said contact-flange 28 and its terminal-band 25, form the stationary element of the switch and the switch terminal for the circuit-wire 2D, and is non-1novably and insulatingly secured to said standard. The plunger 18 audits said inwardly bent lower end, which end I will designate in the drawings by the numeral 20 and refer to as the contact-shoe, form the upper and movable element of the switch and switch terminal for that portion of the circuit means comprising the steeringgear, and is yieldingly supported by the said supporting-bracket, which bracket is in turn supported by the steering-gear in a manner hereinbefore described. The circuit-wire 29 is fastened to the terminal-band '25, by means of the screwbolt 27.

When the steering-wheel and its shaft are rotated in either direction for steering the machine, the contact-shoe 20 will move in an orbit, or in the arc of an orbit, around the upper portion 3 of the standard 1, and in close relation to the contact-flange 28, with which flange it is operatively engageable from any point along its path. The contact-shoe 20 is in normal position when it is away from the contact-flange 28 a short distance and as far as it can go, and when it is in electrical disengagement therewith, and when in such position the circuit will be open.

In Fig. 1 I have shown more or less diagrammatically a circuit means associating my invention with a battery designated by 32, and an electric horn 30; The horn is grounded to a portion of the frame in electric connection with the steeringwheel shaft 5, by means of a grounding wire 33. 31 is a wire connecting the horn to one of the poles of the battery. If desired, the horn canbe' disposed between the battery and the terminal-band 25.

The plunger 18 as shown, is made out of a piece of round wire or small rod, and the upper end engaging the'handpiece 19, is threaded and screws into an opening or hole in said'hand-piece as a matter of convenicnce ofconstruction. It is understood that it may be fastened to the hand-piece in any'manner desired, or the hand-piece may be eliminated entirely, if desired, and the upper end of the wire or plunger upset, or bent over suitably, to form a suitable hand-piece. It is further to be understood, that in place of a round wire or rod, the said plunger may be made out of a piece of flat metal, and having a fiat intermediate or shank portion, slidably connected to the supporting bracket, and resiliently supported by a suitable spring supported by said bracket.

The operation of the invention in connection with the circuit means illustrated is as follows: When it is desired to operate the horn, the operator presses downwardly upon the hand-piece or button 19 with his hand, forcin the plunger 18 and its contact-shoe 2O ownwardly against the tension of the spring 21, until said contact-shoe comes into electrical contact with the contact-flange 28, thereby closing the circuit and permitting the electric current to flow from the positive pole ofthe battery 32 along the circuit-wire 29 to the terminalband 25, contact-flange 28, contact-shoe 20, plungiar 18 to the steering-wheel, to steerlug-wheel shaft, to frame of machine, thence along the ground-wire 33 to horn 30 and thence along the wire 31 to the battery 82 and the point of commencement, thereby operating the horn.

claim:

' 1. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a stationary element and a circularly movable element, of a circuit closer comprising stationary contact means insulatingly mounted on said stationary element adjacent its upper end, supporting means carried bysaid movable element, mo'yable contact means supported by said supporting means and operatively engageable with said stationary contact means for closing the circuit, and resilient means carried by said supporting means adapted to normally hold said movable contact means out of contact with said stationary contact means.

2. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a stationary element and a circularly movable element supported by said stationary element, of a circuit closer comprising stationary contact means insulatingly mounted on the stationary clement adjacent its upper end, su porting means carried by said movable element, movable contact means car ried by said supporting means and having a portion eiztendin up above the movable element adapted or engagement by the hand of the operator and a second portion disposed in close relation to said stationary contact means adapted to engage the latter to close the circuit, and resilient means our ried by said supporting means for normally holding said movable contact means out of engagement with said stationary contact means.

3. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a steerin wheel fixedly mounted on the upper on of a steering wheel shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contact member insulatingly mounted on the standard adjacent its upper end, a movable contact member mo ably supported by the steering wheel shaft and having a portion extending up above the steering wheel adapted for engagement by the hand of the operator and a second portion disposed, in close relation to said stationary contact member and adapted to engage the latter for closing the circuit, and resilient means, for yieldingly holding said contact member out of engagement with said stationary contact member, said contact members forming a portion of the circuit.

4. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end f a steering wheel shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contact elemcnt forming a switch terminal for an elec tric circuit which element is insulatingly mounted on the standard adjacent its upper end, a movable contact element forming the other switch terminal of said electric circuit which movable contact element is moyably supported by the steering wheel shaft and provided with a section extending aboye the steering wheel adapted for engagement by the hand of the operator and provided with a second section extendin below the steering wheel and in close re ation to the stationary contact element and adapted to engage therewith for closing the circuit, and resilient means supported by, said steering wheel and in engagement with said movable contact element for normally holding the latter element out of electrical contact with said stationary contact element.

5. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile embodying a circularly movable element journalcd, in a hollow stationary element, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contact element forming one of the circuit closer terminals of an electric circuit which contact element is insulatingly mounted on said hollow stationary element adjacent its upper end, a movable contact element forming the other circuit closer terminal for said electric circuit ,which movable contact element is movably supported by said circularly movable element and having a portion extending up above the latter adapte for engagement by the hand of the operator, and having a sec,- ond portion extending below the circularly lnm able element adapted for engagement with said stationary contact element for closing the circuit, and resilient meansdisposed in engagement with said moyable contact element for normally holding the latter element out; of electrical contact with said stationary element.

6. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile embodying a steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer; comprising a stationary contact member which member forms one of the circuit closer circuit terminals and is insulatingly' mounted on the standard adjacent its upper end, a support fixedly mounted on the shaft above 'the standard, a, movable contact member, which member forms the other circuit closer circuit terminal and is movably supported by said support and having a portion extending above the steering wheel adapted for engagement by the hand of the operator and having a second portion extending below the steering wheel adapted to operatively contact with said stationary contact member when it is desired to close the circuit, and resilient means carried by said support for normally holding said movable contact memberout of electrical contact with said stationary contact member, said contact members forming a portion of the circuit.

7. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft journaled ina hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contact member insulatingly mounted on said standard adjacent its upper end, said stationary contact member forming one of the circuit closer circuit terminals, a support fixedly mounted on the shaft above the standard, a spring carried by said support, and a movable contact member carried by said support and yieldingly supported by said spring, said movable contact member forming the other of the circuit closer terminals and being movable against the tension of said spring into electric contact with said stationary contact member thereby bridging and closing the gap or break in the circuit, the movable contact member being held normally in disengagement with said stationary contact member by means of said spring.

8. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contactmember insulatingly supported by the standard adjacent its upper end, a late like support provided with a relative y larg'e opening through which opening extends said shaft, means for preventing rotation of said plate like support relative to said shaft, said plate like support being disposed below the steering wheel and above the standard, a contact member carried by said plate like support, and a spring carried by said plate like support for resiliently supporting said last mentioned contact member, said last mentioned contact member being movable against the tension of said spring into electrical contact with said first mentioned contact member for bridging the gap or break and closing the circuit, said resiliently supported contact member being held normally disengaged from said stationary contact member by means of said spring and when so disengaged the circuit will be open.

9. ,The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a lower stationary contact member insulatingly mounted on the standard adjacent its upper end, a support embodyin a plate like member mounted on the sha t below the steering wheel and a second plate like member mounted on the shaft above the steering wheel, means carried by said support movable into electrical contact with said lower stationary contact member thereby bridging and closing the gap or break in the circuit, the said lower stationary contact member and said means carried by said support completing the circuit, and means carried by said support for holding said first mentioned means normally from electrical contact with said lower stationary contact member.

10. The combination with the steering mechanism of an automobile comprising a steering wheel fixedly mounted on the upper end of a shaft journaled in a hollow stationary standard, of a circuit closer comprising a lower stationary contact member insulatingly mounted on said standard adjacent its upper end, a support fixedly mounted on the shaft above the standard, a spring carried by said support, an upper contact member carried by said support and resiliently supported by said spring, said upper contact member having a sectlon disposed below the steering wheel and held yieldingly by means of said spring normally in close relation to but not in electrical contact with said lower contact member but movable against the tension of said spring into electrical contact therewith for closing the circuit, said contact members forming a portion of the circuit.

11. In combination with the steering gear of an automobile comprising a stationary element and a circularly movable element supported by the former, of a circuit closer comprising a stationary contact member insulatingly mounted on the stationary element adjacent its upper end, supporting means fixedly mounted on said movable element. movable contact means movably supported by said supporting means engageable with said stationary contact member for closing the circuit, and resilient means normally tending to separate said contact members supported by said supportin means.

GEORGE VOIGHT.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

